The goalkeeper, overlooked for the final Socceroos' squad, could make up for the blow by securing a dream move to one of Europe's biggest leagues
Mark Birighitti hopes to get over the disappointment of being cut from Australia's World Cup squad by finalising a move to Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.
The goalkeeper was one of four players left out of Ange Postecoglou's final 23-man roster for the tournament in Brazil.
Unlike fellow cast-offs Tom Rogic, Josh Kennedy and Luke Wilkshire, he will remain in camp until the Socceroos' first Group B clash against Chile on June 13 as cover for Mat Ryan, Mitch Langerak and Eugene Galekovic.
The 23-year-old also has something to look forward to in the wake of his omission, with the Newcastle Jets man potentially set to join fellow Socceroo Robbie Kruse at the BayArena next season.
"It's still up in the air at the moment," he told Goal Australia.
"They're still pretty keen. It's out of my hands now. I left a good impression over there. They were quite happy with me, with the way I went. I'm just playing a waiting game now.
"Obviously getting called up into this squad, it definitely helps quite a bit with my chances over there."
Birighitti liked what he saw when he travelled to Germany to train with Leverkusen in March and believes he left a favourable impression on the coaching staff and club officials.
"That was a fantastic experience, going over there to one of the biggest clubs in Germany," he said.
"A real eye-opener.
"To be fair it wasn't a trial, it was more just getting over there, having a look at the club. Meeting up with the coach, the players. I was only there for about three days, only trained twice or three times. It was a good experience. I had a look around the club ... they're real nice guys.
"It's a club that every young footballer dreams of playing at. It's a big club over there in a good league. I'm hopeful that it comes off."
The shot-stopper isn't taking anything for granted though, and isn't presumptuous enough to throw himself in language classes until he signs on the dotted line.
"I haven't practiced it yet," he said when asked about the standard of his German.
"Once the deal is finalised and gets over the line then I may (have to) start practicing."
The former Adelaide United player is trying to keep things in perspective, claiming he will have no problems remaining at Hunter Stadium under new coach Phil Stubbins if the Leverkusen transfer does not transpire.
"Just recently I signed a two-year deal with Newcastle," he said.
"It's a great club, I love the club, with great supporters, a good playing group. Another two years here in the A-League is not going to hurt me.
"(But) it's every young footballers dream (in) the best leagues in the world. You look at goalkeepers who have been overseas, Mitch Langerak, Mat Ryan, Schwarzy (Mark Schwarzer). They're playing at big clubs overseas."
Although Birighitti and defender Josh Brillante were ultimately deemed surplus to requirements by Postecoglou, the Jets do have golden boot-winner Adam Taggart as a representative in the final 23.
The presence of the striker and other domestic-based players should be a source of pride to Newcastle and the competition as a whole, according to Birighitti.
"For them to see three of their boys in the Socceroos squad, it's big for them as well," he said.
"It goes to show how far the A-League has come. There's many other A-League boys in this squad that have been standouts."
Originally Posted by pv4
